Cleveland Browns Persons of Interest: Offensive Skill Players

The Cleveland Browns aren't likely to take many players at the skill positions, but they should definitely select one and on the third and final day of the draft, who knows what they will do as the final three rounds will often see the oft-overused draft phrase "best player available".

With Baker Mayfield as the starter and Case Keenum signed as the solid veteran backup, the Browns are very unlikely to draft a quarterback in the first three rounds, but I could see them draft a developmental arm in the sixth or seventh round.
If so, there is one player that fits the bill for me in Colorado's Steven Montez.
At 6'4 and 230 pounds, Montez has the size that you want from a pocket passer and his tested ball velocity, which is a new quarterback test to measure arm strength, was 59 MPH, tying Montez with Washington's Jacob Eason for the top in the category and was stronger than possible top ten pick Justin Herbert of Oregon and possible first-rounder Jordan Love of Utah State.
Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa didn't take the ball velocity test, but that shows the power arm with Montez.
The questions with Montez are mainly decision-making and accuracy, which are pretty large questions for a quarterback, but should the Browns decide on a later round passer, Steven Montez is an interesting candidate.

The Browns are unlikely to select a running back for a team that always employs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, but one never knows if the Browns could use a day three pick on a back.
Should they decide to look into a back in the late rounds, it'll likely be a specialty back such as one that can return kicks or perhaps a third-down pass-catching back.
I like Patrick Taylor of Memphis if the Browns decide on a more conventional back or Cincinnati's Michael Warren if they are looking for a pass catcher.

The wide receiver class is loaded this season with many players that could make a difference that hasn't been seen in one draft in years.
The Browns will likely not look at wide receiver with the tenth pick but could consider a trade in the late first round or on day two to grab one.

Assuming the top three receivers are gone by the time the Browns would consider one in Alabama's twosome of Jerry Jeudy and Henry Riggs and CeeDee Lamb of Oklahoma, the two that I would like best would likely require trading back into the first round in LSU's Justin Jefferson and Tee Higgins of Clemson.

Jefferson is more of a slot receiver and would fit perfectly as the eventual replacement for Jarvis Landry, while Higgins is an outside receiver that can get downfield and has tremendous ball skills.
Both have excellent hands and I'd be happy with either of them.
Jefferson almost certainly will be taken by Cleveland's second-rounder, while Higgins has a chance to be there, but is far from a guarantee at that stage.

Michael Pittman Jr of USC might be an acceptable compromise if Jefferson and Higgins are off the board.
The son of the former Cardinals running back, the 6'4 Pittman shows great hands and ability to get the football, but he isn't quite as fast as the higher-rated receivers in this draft.
Pittman would be a consideration for me in the second round.

A player that could be a steal for Cleveland is Donovan Peoples-Jones of Michigan, who underachieved due to poor quarterback play.
The physical tools are there for Peoples-Jones and he could be a very interesting choice in the third round.

Ohio State's K.J. Hill would be a reasonable and cheaper alternative to Justin Jefferson out of the slot as his production at Ohio State outweighs his combine numbers.
Some people like Hill far more than others and it'll be interesting to see where Hill actually is drafted.

I also like Florida's Van Jefferson as a medium yardage target and on the final day, I would love to see the Browns take a look at multi-dimensional players Lynn Bowden of Kentucky or K.J. Hamler of Penn State.
Either player can take a short pass for big yardage, can be used for gimmick plays and both can return kicks and the Browns haven't had an explosive player in that mold for a long time.

Late in the draft, Quintez Cephus of Wisconsin is an excellent route runner that could be a nice developmental receiver down the road and Binjimen Victor of Ohio State has the type of size and speed that a patient team may eventually find themselves with a very good player.
Victor could be an effective red-zone receiver at worst and could be a late-round steal for someone out there.

Cleveland may be looking for a tight end, but the crop is very light and unless they are looking for a blocking tight end that could be signed after the draft in free agency, the Browns might be best suited to worry about a tight end next season, should David Njoku leave.

I'll be back later with the defensive side of the ball.